Azure Network Watcher vs Meraki Dashboard comparison

Microsoft and Cisco are both solutions in the Network Monitoring Software category. Microsoft is ranked #42 with an average rating of 8.5, while Cisco is ranked #20 with an average rating of 8.6. Microsoft holds a 0.5% mindshare in NMS, compared to Cisco’s 0.7% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Cisco users who would recommend it.

Azure Network Watcher

Read 13 Azure Network Watcher reviews

1,082 Views
1,039 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Meraki Dashboard

Read 59 Meraki Dashboard reviews

2,815 Views
2,393 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Azure Network Watcher

Meraki Dashboard

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 10, 2024

Meraki Dashboard and Azure Network Watcher both compete in the network management tools category. Azure Network Watcher appears to have the upper hand due to its focus on architecture and packet capture functionalities.

Features: Meraki Dashboard offers central management for multisite visibility, presence and user analytics, and intuitive monitoring tools. Azure Network Watcher specializes in packet capture and provides strong database security and connection diagnostics within Azure environments.

Room for Improvement: Meraki Dashboard could improve its licensing process, user guides, and device cloning capabilities. VPN setup and third-party device integration also need improvement. Azure Network Watcher requires additional tools for traffic analysis and better documentation. Improvements in diagnostics and log details would enhance troubleshooting.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Meraki Dashboard supports diverse deployments across private, hybrid, and public clouds, with generally responsive customer service. Azure Network Watcher is cloud-focused, necessitating clearer initial setup and faster response from support teams.

Pricing and ROI: Meraki Dashboard uses a tiered license model which can be expensive, though its features justify the cost. Azure Network Watcher's pricing is considered reasonable but may be high for smaller enterprises, impacting budget-sensitive users.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard

March 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 885,376 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Azure Network Watcher

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

42nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Meraki Dashboard

Ranking in Network Monitoring Software

20th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Network Monitoring Software category, the mindshare of Azure Network Watcher is 0.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Meraki Dashboard is 0.7%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Network Monitoring Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Meraki Dashboard	0.7%
Azure Network Watcher	0.5%
Other	98.8%

Network Monitoring Software

Featured Reviews

Bijoyendra Roychowdhury

Program Manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees

Network monitoring provides comprehensive analytics while the interface requires further development

The quality of Azure Network Watcher is quite good in terms of the in-depth analysis you can create from these matrices. There are other monitoring tools such as New Relic, AppDynamics, and Dynatrace which provide very detailed network tracing. Cloud providers such as Azure or AWS do not have that kind of GUI-based capability at this point, but using PowerShell or Python, you can develop it yourself. From the GUI perspective, it still needs to evolve in terms of quality and standard, though overall, it is quite good for troubleshooting. Regarding areas for improvement, when comparing to other network tools beyond Azure Monitor or Azure Network Watcher, those tools can identify single failed packets. This level of granularity is not currently possible with cloud providers as they only go to a certain level rather than the granular level needed for deep troubleshooting, though they do provide hints with available matrices.

Read full review

MURALI NIDAMANURI

Managing Director at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Dashboard provides comprehensive network security and management capabilities

I don't have specific handy names. Meraki Dashboard uses multiple functions where we can configure SSIDs, firewall policies, DHCP, multiple VLANs and DHCP configurations, VLAN configurations, access control policies, MAC binding, client access based on MAC authentication and certificate-based authentication. We have configured SSO for Windows Active Directory by configuring the RADIUS services. We have implemented many customer requirements in Meraki Dashboard. With the detailed visibility feature of Meraki Dashboard, I get connected clients information, including how much data each client downloaded and what applications they accessed. I can obtain detailed data including ISP links level monitoring and speed. I can perform speed tests, generate analytics reports, convert to Excel based on each user for each department, create dashboards, monitor and limit bandwidths, and restrict specific URLs. The advanced security configuration in Meraki Dashboard is useful for network security. Substantial security can be achieved within Meraki Dashboard itself, eliminating the need for additional firewalls to protect your network. You can configure WAN monitoring, users' ACLs, URL filtering, web filtering, and department-wise access configuration for specific client applications. It's completely cloud-managed, and in a simplified way, you don't need to visit any physical infrastructure to monitor activities. Apart from access points, everything is in the cloud. We have monitored IoT solutions, CCTV monitoring, and can detect and control intrusions. When people connect IoT devices to your network, Meraki Dashboard can detect what device it is and control those access controls, even with different operating systems.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is stable."

"What I like most about Azure Network Watcher is that it's focused more on the architecture. I also like that it has a packet capture feature that tells you how the packet travels and whether it's exiting Azure, etc."

"My advice to others looking into using Azure Network Watcher is to go for it, as you'll have the tool by default when you're subscribed to Azure VNet."

"The stability is very good. I rate it a ten out of ten."

"I like the visibility."

"It provides good visibility."

"The solution is good for monitoring device behavior."

"This is a stable system providing stable performance."

More Azure Network Watcher pros

"We have found the client dashboard to be very simple to use, especially in our Meraki environment."

"We've been spending a lot less time on tickets and deployments, so we have more time to do other things."

"The dashboard itself is very simplified and easy to navigate."

"Scalability is one of Meraki Dashboard's strongest features. We have thousands of users if we're counting the end-users on our clients' network, but we have hundreds of clients."

"Meraki dashboard deserves an Oscar."

"The ability to view the entire project stack, including the camera, features, and routers, which I believe are the most important or relevant components."

"Great visibility on the dashboard."

"We find that Meraki has all the features you need to be able to enable complex network protocols for AV equipment. We deal with a streaming product over IP, and Meraki is fantastic at that."

More Meraki Dashboard pros

Cons

"I would like to see in the future if we can troubleshoot as a firewall because it is equipment as a network player and some diagnostics."

"Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications. For example, an application to log activities for in and outbound traffic."

"It's not the most friendly or straightforward to set up. I don't see the value versus the way you have to set it up at first."

"The initial setup and deployment could be improved to be simplified."

"Azure Network Watcher needs to have better documentation and it needs to capture information accurately."

"The solution could use some additional components of the network culture, not only VMs. I'd like to see some additional security features because what they currently have concentrates only on the network."

"Azure Network Watcher could improve by having other built-in applications, for example, an application to log activities for inbound and outbound traffic."

"The solution could improve by limiting the need to clarify the logs. When the clarification is minimized, it is better for everyone involved."

More Azure Network Watcher cons

"There is a need for price reductions in developing countries, as the cost of Meraki is quite high."

"The wait time to speak with a Meraki support engineer is always long, but they get the job done."

"You can't really clone or replicate a device, that sort of feature would be useful. You can clone the site but you cannot clone the device."

"It's a very complex system. Customers have told me that sometimes there are lots of advanced features that are available and that you can change in the dashboard, but sometimes it's very hard to know what they are."

"It is a little bit expensive."

"The pricing for this solution needs to be improved."

"In general, how I add firewall rules is not great. It is just a little bit too simple the way it is right now."

"The biggest problem is the absence of a VPN client like AnyConnect with the device."

More Meraki Dashboard cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"Azure Network Watcher is a little bit expensive."

"The pricing is good. It's not too expensive."

"Price-wise, I have no information on how much Azure Network Watcher costs."

"The pricing of the tool is relatively high compared to other solutions. It comes with a premium that exceeds that of its competitors by approximately 25 percent."

"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."

"From a pricing perspective, they are still expensive."

"Typically, the license model is for one, three, and five years. They can just be a bit more flexible around it and look into providing an option for 24 months."

"Meraki Dashboard's pricing is reasonable. It is sold yearly, typically for one, three, or five years. I rate its pricing a five out of ten."

"You don't have to pay for the dashboard."

"My view is that it's expensive, but it's the best."

"The pricing for a small setup is only a few hundred dollars a year. The fee is subscription-based."

More Meraki Dashboard pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Network Monitoring Software solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

885,376 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

University

Government

Construction Company

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Government

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	23
Midsize Enterprise	13
Large Enterprise	26

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Network Watcher?

I do not have the exact setup cost information on hand, but it is available in the public Azure portal. You can access the calculator there to get detailed pricing information.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Azure Network Watcher?

The main area for improvement is AI-based features. Currently, many intelligent tools are coming from third parties, and Azure Network Watcher needs to improve in this area. The focus should be on ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Azure Network Watcher?

Azure Network Watcher is used for monitoring network traffic. It provides insight into egress and ingress traffic, which helps determine whether consumption can be controlled. Most Azure services c...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Meraki Dashboard?

I would rate the pricing for Meraki Dashboard as one.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Meraki Dashboard?

Regarding Meraki Dashboard, I would suggest improvements to Cisco ISE integration. I have used Cisco ISE for port security and I never liked the GUI because it is difficult. If I need to check the ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Meraki Dashboard?

My main use case for Meraki Dashboard is as a NOC engineer for the MSP, where we have three sites. We add all the sites to Meraki Dashboard for live monitoring. I am the one who uses LogicMonitor, ...

See all answers

Comparisons

Kentik vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 22% of the time

Nmap vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 17% of the time

ExtraHop Reveal(x) for IT Operations vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 7% of the time

Ixia Network Taps vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 7% of the time

PRTG Network Monitor vs Azure Network Watcher

Compared 6% of the time

More Azure Network Watcher Competitors

Fortinet FortiSIEM vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 14% of the time

Nmap vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 7% of the time

Cisco DNA Center vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 7% of the time

Zabbix vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 5% of the time

SolarWinds NPM vs Meraki Dashboard

Compared 4% of the time

More Meraki Dashboard Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher

March 2026

Download Azure Network Watcher product report

Buyer's Guide

Meraki Dashboard

March 2026

Download Meraki Dashboard product report

Overview

Azure Network Watcher is a comprehensive network monitoring and diagnostic service offered by Microsoft Azure. It provides a range of tools and capabilities to help users monitor, diagnose, and gain insights into their Azure network infrastructure. With Network Watcher, users can capture and analyze network traffic, monitor network performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and gain visibility into network topology. It also offers features like packet capture, flow logs, connection monitoring, and VPN diagnostics to ensure the smooth operation of Azure networks. Network Watcher enables users to proactively identify and resolve network issues, optimize network performance, and enhance the overall reliability and security of their Azure network environment.

Microsoft

Meraki Dashboard is a comprehensive cloud-based platform that offers centralized management and control for all Meraki networking and security products. It provides a user-friendly interface, allowing administrators to easily monitor and configure their network infrastructure from anywhere. With real-time visibility, troubleshooting becomes effortless, ensuring optimal performance and minimizing downtime.

The intuitive dashboard offers a holistic view of the network, enabling quick identification of potential issues and proactive measures. It simplifies network deployment and scaling, with zero-touch provisioning and automatic firmware updates. The robust security features include advanced threat protection, content filtering, and VPN connectivity.

Meraki Dashboard also offers powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, providing valuable insights into network usage, application performance, and user behavior. With its seamless integration and scalability,

Meraki Dashboard is the ideal solution for organizations of all sizes, ensuring efficient network management and enhanced productivity.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Coop eG, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Priefert Manufacturing, Century Care Management, Clifton College, Zürs Ski Resort, Capital FM Arena, MAXI Autohöfe

Buyer's Guide

Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard

March 2026

Free Report: Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard

Find out what your peers are saying about Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard and other solutions. Updated: March 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

885,376 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Azure Network Watcher vs. Meraki Dashboard report.

See our list of best Network Monitoring Software vendors.

We monitor all Network Monitoring Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.